58 mins ago
Darjeeling Tea Exports Fall 46 Percent Over Decade
Darjeeling Tea is famous around the world for its aroma and flavour.
But people in other countries bought much less of it in 2025 than in 2015.
Exports fell from 3.95 million kilograms to 2.13 million kilograms.
A long shutdown during the 2017 Gorkhaland agitation stopped tea from reaching customers on time.
An industry adviser said some buyers changed to Nepal tea instead.
The amount of tea made in Darjeeling also fell during the same period.
Industry representatives cited worker absenteeism and low investment in tea gardens as problems.
At least nine gardens are currently closed, according to an industry source.
Producers also say auction prices are still below the cost of making the tea.
Darjeeling Tea exports fell from 3.95 million kilograms in 2015 to 2.13 million kilograms in 2025.
The 2017 Gorkhaland agitation halted the industry for more than three months and disrupted overseas supplies.
Industry adviser Sandeep Mukherjee said some buyers switched to Nepal tea during the prolonged closure.
Production declined 36 percent, from 8.76 million kilograms in 2015 to 5.60 million kilograms in 2025.
High worker absenteeism, limited garden investment, closed plantations and rising production costs are adding to industry distress.
- Who
- Darjeeling Tea producers, workers and industry representatives, including the Darjeeling Tea Association.
- What
- Darjeeling Tea exports and production have declined substantially over the past decade.
- Where
- Darjeeling, India, with effects on its overseas tea market.
- When
- Exports fell from 2015 to 2025, with a major disruption during the 2017 agitation.
- Why
- The decline has been linked to the 2017 closure, reduced production, high absenteeism, limited investment and production costs exceeding auction prices.
Industry disruption and structural problems
Recovery and market resilience
Main cause of export decline
Industry disruption and structural problems
The Darjeeling Tea Association’s adviser identified the prolonged 2017 closure as the single most important reason for lost exports, saying buyers switched to Nepal tea.
Recovery and market resilience
The production decline and continuing industry problems suggest the export drop is also linked to longer-term factors, including absenteeism, limited investment and closed gardens.
Industry performance after 2017
Industry disruption and structural problems
Industry representatives describe the continuing fall in exports as extremely alarming and say the 2017 disruption had lasting effects on the market.
Recovery and market resilience
Exports rebounded from 2.48 million kg in 2017 to 3.71 million kg in 2018, and auction prices rose from ₹285.61 per kg in 2015 to ₹420.95 per kg in 2025.
Financial sustainability
Industry disruption and structural problems
Producers maintain that auction prices do not cover production costs, which an industry source put at at least ₹550 per kilogram.
Recovery and market resilience
Auction prices improved over the decade and reached ₹434.88 per kg in 2018, indicating some price recovery even though the reported 2025 price remained below the stated production cost.
Key facts
- Export decline
- Exports fell from 3.95 million kg in 2015 to 2.13 million kg in 2025, a decline of about 46 percent.
- Production decline
- Production fell from 8.76 million kg in 2015 to 5.60 million kg in 2025, a decline of around 36 percent.
- 2017 disruption
- The Gorkhaland agitation brought the tea industry to a standstill for more than three months.
- Registered plantations
- Eighty-seven plantations are entitled to produce and sell tea with the Darjeeling geographical indication.
- Workforce
- The industry employs about 55,000 permanent workers and 15,000 temporary workers.
- Closed gardens
- At least nine Darjeeling Tea gardens are currently closed, according to an industry source.
- 2025 auction price
- The average auction price was ₹420.95 per kg in 2025, while an industry source estimated production costs at least ₹550 per kg.
Quotes
An industry source
Unnamed source from the Darjeeling Tea industry
“At least nine Darjeeling Tea gardens are currently closed. Several estates are also for sale, but few are interested.”
telegraphindia.com
“The cost of production is at least ₹550 per kilogram.”
telegraphindia.com
Sandeep Mukherjee
Principal adviser to the Darjeeling Tea Association
“Because of the prolonged closure in 2017, Darjeeling Tea could not reach connoisseurs on time, and they switched over to Nepal tea. This is the single most important reason for the drop in exports.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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